Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) faces serious legal and political risks following new allegations from a Democratic whistleblower, now backed by declassified FBI interview reports. The whistleblower, reportedly a longtime staffer on the House Intelligence Committee, claims Schiff authorized leaks of classified information during the Trump–Russia investigation to harm former President Donald Trump. Former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman explained that if prosecutors pursue charges and prove intent, Schiff could face fines of up to $250,000 per leak and possibly years in federal prison. The whistleblower said he raised ethical concerns at the time but was told the group wouldn’t be caught. He also alleged he was fired after reporting his concerns to the FBI.
The whistleblower further claimed Schiff had ambitions to become CIA Director if Hillary Clinton had won the 2016 election and identified Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) as a potential participant in the alleged leak efforts. Despite providing testimony to the FBI in both 2017 and again in 2023, the whistleblower says no formal investigation was launched. Critics of the FBI, including former Trump official Kash Patel, argue this inaction reflects broader concerns about unequal enforcement within federal law enforcement and a tendency to shield politically connected individuals.
🚨Former US Attorney Brett Tolman says Adam Schiff could be facing 20 years in federal prison plus a $250,000 fine for every piece of Russian information he leaked to the media:
“The fine is up to $250,000 for every, every leak that's charged. So it depends on the counts in the… pic.twitter.com/1lPIKVZFFc
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 12, 2025
Tolman emphasized that the legal consequences could be far-reaching, depending on how many counts are filed and the prosecutors’ interpretation of the intent behind any leaks. While he noted the case likely does not meet the strict legal definition of treason, other serious federal crimes—such as conspiracy or obstruction—could apply if coordination or motive to undermine the government is proven. Schiff has not responded publicly to the most recent developments but has previously denied all allegations, dismissing them as politically driven attacks. As of now, no charges have been filed, and the Justice Department has not announced whether it will move forward with an investigation.
